Richard Arthur Forrester

Richard Arthur Forrester, son of Doctor & Mrs. Clifton Arthur Forrester, passed away on December 2nd at home with his loving wife by his side. He fought the good fight, finished the race, and kept the faith. Now he has a heavenly home and will forever be with Jesus, his Lord and Savior.

He is survived by his wife, Sharon Lee Garner Forrester, and five children…Ruth Marie Wilson, Clifton Turner Forrester, Paul Richard Forrester, David Lee Forrester, and James Wesley Forrester; and by his brother, Daniel Marshall Forrester. He also leaves behind 8 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by his parents and his brother, Donald Williams Forrester.

Richard was born on July 10, 1934 in Macon, GA. He graduated from high school at the Academy of Richmond County in Augusta in 1951, from college at Mercer University in 1955, and from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, NC in 1959. He also received a certificate in Spanish Language Studies in San Jose, Costa Rica. He was ordained to the ministry in 1953 at Tattnall Square Baptist Church in Macon, GA at the request of Pleasant Plains Baptist Church.

Richard was a career missionary with the International Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention from 1963-1980. He served in Barquisimeto, Acarigua, Anaco, and Maracaibo in Venezuela. He pastored Spanish and English congregations in Anaco and Maracaibo. He also led in several rural and city mission points in those locations and taught in the Seminary Extension program for rural pastors in the town of San Nicolas (Santa Claus) in the state of Guanare.

He also pastored churches in the States. In Georgia, he served at Pleasant Plains Baptist near Harrison, First Baptist Pearson, and Lake View Baptist in Macon. In North Carolina, he pastored at Cartledge Creek Baptist in Rockingham. He served as interim pastor in approximately a dozen places…including five times at Log Cabin in Macon.

Upon returning from Venezuela, he was employed as Personnel Coordinator by Industrial Welding and Tool Supplies in Macon, GA. He also served as Administrative Assistant at Eyesight Associates in Warner Robins, GA for 3 years.

After retiring, he and Sharon moved to Ft. Myers, FL where they lived for nine years. That was followed by a move to Clemmons, NC to be closer to family.

Richard was always going out of his way to help others and to share the gospel. He never met a stranger and was good at lifting up those who were down. His love for his family was evident in the way he lived his life.

Funeral Services will be held at Macon Memorial Park Funeral Home in Macon, GA, on Thursday, December 8th at 2:00 PM with visitation at 1:00. Services will be conducted by Dr. Tim McCoy with Rev. Len Woodard assisting and with internment afterwards in the cemetery. A memorial service will also be held at Calvary Baptist Church in Winston-Salem, NC at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be given in his honor to the International Mission Board in Richmond, VA (3806 Monument Ave, Richmond, VA 23230) and designated to the Venezuelan Relief Fund or given to your favorite charity.